Wednesday, July 29, 2015
17th Week in Ordinary
1st Reading: 1 Jn 4; 7-16
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he entered a village and a woman called Martha welcomed him to her house. She had a sister named Mary who sat down at the Lord’s feet to listen to his words. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with all the serving and finally she said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the serving?”
But the Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)\
There was nothing wrong with the division of labor between Martha and Maria until the former complained. Jesus knew that Martha was into self-pity. But instead of consoling her, Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you worry and are troubled about many things, whereas only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus wanted to teach Martha that the nature of work, for as long as the work is not immoral or contrary to law, is not material. What matters is that one works for God. Martha’s kitchen work was pleasing to Jesus at the start; self-pity rendered it unpleasant. One who listens to Jesus in prayer as Maria did, and one who works for God like Martha who prepared food for Jesus in the kitchen, equally please God, for both are giving Him the lion’s share of their hearts.
Jesus also wanted to teach Martha a lesson on teamwork. Her work and the work of her sister complemented to give Jesus the hospitality he deserved. But instead of synergizing with her sister, Martha worked bitterly in isolation. The sad thing about loners is that there is no one around to draw support from when it is time to lick wounds. Loners cannot even count on God’s sympathy. Martha was wooing Jesus’ support. But instead of helping her lick her wounds Jesus told her in plain language that her sister had chosen the better part.
The Martha in us summarizes our earthly concerns; the Maria in us, our spiritual preoccupations. As Martha’s preoccupation in the kitchen (before she complained) stood at equal footing with Maria’s “better part” before Jesus, so God’s apparent floccinaucinihilipilification of earthly concerns won’t apply if we strive to harmonize these with our spiritual concerns. Our earthly endeavors should not clash with our spiritual concerns. The two can even produce the synergy that empowers us to become effective witnesses of God. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: [email protected]. Website:www.frdan.org.
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